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§ THE GLASS FACTORY. §
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,,,,,,,,,- SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ AND A GIFT SHOP. $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,-»†§$¤¶# MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE #¶¤$§†»-,,
,-»†§$¤¶## CONSIDERED POOR. ##¶¤$§†»-,
,,-»†§$¤¶# #¶¤$§†»-,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, SOME ARE SHATTERED. ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ §§ ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,-»†§$¤¶# §§ §§ #¶¤$§†»-,,
,-»†§$¤¶## »»»»»»» § § »»»»»»» ##¶¤$§†»-,
,,-»†§$¤¶# §§ §§ #¶¤$§†»-,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ §§ ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,-»†§$¤¶# WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS #¶¤$§†»-,,
,-»†§$¤¶## OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. ##¶¤$§†»-,
,,-»†§$¤¶# #¶¤$§†»-,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, LIT FROM BEHIND. ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,-»†§$¤¶# #¶¤$§†»-,,
,-»†§$¤¶## §§ ##¶¤$§†»-,
,,-»†§$¤¶# §§ §§ #¶¤$§†»-,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ »»»»»»» § § »»»»»»» ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ §§ §§ ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ §§ $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,-»†§$¤¶# A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS #¶¤$§†»-,,
,-»†§$¤¶## SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING ##¶¤$§†»-,
,,-»†§$¤¶# HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I #¶¤$§†»-,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ FLOOR. ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,-»†§$¤¶# HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO #¶¤$§†»-,,
,-»†§$¤¶## KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE ##¶¤$§†»-,
,,-»†§$¤¶# LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, #¶¤$§†»-,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» BECOME STILL. »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ §§ §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ §§ §§ $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ »»»»»»» § § »»»»»»» ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ §§ §§ ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,-»†§$¤¶# §§ #¶¤$§†»-,,
,-»†§$¤¶## ##¶¤$§†»-,
,,-»†§$¤¶# A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, #¶¤$§†»-,,
,,,-»†§$¤¶ AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M ¶¤$§†»-,,,
,,,,-»†§$¤ BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE ¤$§†»-,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, $§†»-,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,, THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK ,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,- GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND -,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,-» I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE »-,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,-»† THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? †»-,,,,,,,
,,,,,,-»†§ §†»-,,,,,,
,,,,,-»†§$ I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. $§†»-,,,,,
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